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Showbiz Tonight
Oscar Preview: SHOWBIZ Road to Gold
Aired February 22, 2013 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST (voice-over): Right now, it`s the "SHOWBIZ Road to Gold." We are one-on-one with Hollywood`s biggest Oscar nominees for a "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of our top five "Oscar Must-Sees."
Leading lady Jennifer Lawrence.
NISCHELLE TURNER, HLN CORRESPONDENT: To hear them say this girl is kind of the "it" actress of our generation.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE, ACTRESS: Wow. I haven`t heard them say that. I think you`re lying.
HAMMER: Leading man, Hugh Jackman.
HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR: This is something beyond the realms of imagination.
HAMMER: And first-time Oscar host Seth MacFarlane, who`s ready to turn the Oscars upside-down.
SETH MACFARLANE, OSCARS HOST: It`s a very thin-skinned room.
TURNER: Yes, and you have an edgy aesthetic, so how do you walk that line?
MACFARLANE: So it`s -- so it`s a really bad match, I think, is what we`ve arrived at here.
HAMMER: Is Seth putting Hollywood on notice?
But what will we name the No. 1 Oscar must-see? The "SHOWBIZ Road to Gold" countdown starts right now.
(on camera): Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer in Hollywood with Nischelle Turner. Welcome to "SHOWBIZ Road to Gold." The 85th Academy Awards are this Sunday. We`re both going to be there for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
TURNER: We will and, by the way, I cannot wait to do this.
In the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," we are counting down our top five "Oscar Must- Sees," and yes, it was incredibly tough to narrow it down to just five.
HAMMER: It really, really was, Nischelle. So we`re going to kick off our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" in just a moment. And I can definitely tell you that, between the star-studded showdowns and an unpredictable new Oscar host, it will be an amazing night.
(voice-over): This year`s Oscars are filled with drama. Will "Argo" win Best Picture?
BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: I`ve never left anyone behind.
HAMMER: Or will it be "Zero Dark Thirty" or "Lincoln"? Will Daniel Day Lewis nab his third Best Actor Oscar for "Lincoln"?
DANIEL DAY LEWIS, ACTOR: This is self-evident.
HAMMER: Or will "Silver Linings Playbook`s" Bradley Cooper pull off an upset?
BRADLEY COOPER, ACTOR: I`m happy.
HAMMER: Then, there`s the most dramatic Oscar night question of all. Will host Seth MacFarlane escape the wrath of all the nominees he`s mocked on his show, "Family Guy"?
MACFARLANE: We need somebody who`s not that funny and not that good looking and that you forget about the second you leave the theater.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Bradley would be perfect for that.
HAMMER: Seth better hope Bradley Cooper isn`t called to the stage with him.
COOPER: You have poor social skills. You have a problem.
HAMMER: Seth may not have to worry. Daniel Day Lewis is favored to win Best Actor for "Lincoln," but Seth will likely have an onstage run-in with Ben Affleck, who "Entertainment Weekly" points out "Family Guy" once mocked as a less than disciplined actor.
MACFARLANE: Well, I`ve got to be Henry VIII in 20 minutes. Hello. Hello. `Allo, `allo. Got it.
HAMMER: Now, Affleck`s movie, "Argo," is a favorite to win Best Picture.
GRAE DRAKE, EDITOR, ROTTENTOMATOES.COM: He grew the crazy hair and beard. The least that we can do is reward him for this fantastic movie.
HAMMER: All five nominees have won before, a fact MacFarlane joked about at the nomination announcement.
MACFARLANE: Breath of fresh air in that category.
HAMMER: That probably didn`t go over too well with nominee Tommy lee Jones, who many Oscar experts expect to win for "Lincoln." News flash, Seth: Tommy Lee doesn`t take jokes very well.
In the supporting actress category, "Les Miserables" Ann Hathaway is a huge frontrunner. But competition could come from Helen Hunt, who plays a sex surrogate in "The Sessions."
HELEN HUNT, ACTRESS: Shall we get undressed?
MACFARLANE: Not exactly the role Seth had her playing on "Family Guy."
MACFARLANE: This is a way better than the one I got from Helen Hunt.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You want to have sex?
MACFARLANE: No.
HAMMER: And what about the Best Actress race?
DRAKE: This is also the category where there is the most room for an upset.
HAMMER: So we might see an upset in the Oscar races while Seth MacFarlane may do some upsetting with his Oscar night jokes.
DRAKE: There`s probably going to be something scatological, but it`s probably going to be classily scatological.
HAMMER: Either way, it`s going to be a fun night.
(on camera): Nischelle, no real surprise here. It looks like Seth and ready to raring to go.
TURNER: I believe you`re right, A.J.
HAMMER: All right. So what are our top five must-sees of the Oscars when the awards are handed out? Well, let`s kick off the SHOWBIZ Countdown with No. 5. It`s the showdown of the leading ladies in the Best Actress category.
TURNER: A.J., we have the youngest nominee ever in 9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, going up against the oldest nominee ever, 85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva from "Amour." Their competition includes Naomi Watts in "The Impossible" and Jessica Chastain in "Zero Dark Thirty." And you can`t forget -- better not forget Jennifer Lawrence, who`s already won big this awards season for "Silver Linings Playbook."
No, I just spoke with Jennifer, and she told me that she`s trying to take all this Oscar business and excitement in stride.
So 22 years old. Your second Oscar nomination. Do you ever just say, "This can`t be my life"?
LAWRENCE: Yes, I do. Now it`s just -- I find it hilarious.
TURNER: And you`re at these things and you`re like...
LAWRENCE: I know. I`m looking around at, like, all of these legends and my heroes and I`m just like, "Hey."
TURNER: I heard you on "PIERS MORGAN" the other night tell him that you were vulnerable, and when I heard that I said no way, because you come off as such a confident, tough girl.
LAWRENCE: It is just my voice. I have a very deep voice. It makes me sound very confident and tough.
TURNER: What are you vulnerable about?
LAWRENCE: Well, everything. I mean, there`s not really -- there`s no way to really feel, like, fully confident when you`re photographed almost every day. And I mean, just -- I obviously can`t read what anybody says in the press.
But I don`t know, just very, very watched and kind of looked under a microscope. It`s kind of impossible not to feel vulnerable.
TURNER: I remember interviewing you right when "The Hunger Games" was coming out. And we kind of talked about paparazzi were starting to figure you out and find you. Have you made peace with that? Because I know it`s a full-on issue.
LAWRENCE: It`s horrible. And the worst part is they take away your peace of mind, like even when I`m in my house. I still feel -- you still have, like, that feeling of being watched. It`s just kind of a horrible, horrible thing. I don`t think I`ll ever come to terms with it.
Turner: When you`re not looking -- not looking like you are today with the gorgeous makeup and the great dress, what do you do when it`s just like a day off?
LAWRENCE: Jennifer Lawrence day? I never wear makeup. I`m not good at putting on makeup. So I never wear makeup, and I look terrible. And I normally stay in my pajamas forever, especially now because I`m not leaving the house. So my friends come over. They`re like "You`ve been wearing that same thing for, like, three days."
HAMMER: I think with two Oscar nominations at only 22 years old, not too many days in PJs in the future.
TURNER: Yes, you know, I think you`re probably right. Something sells me she`s going to get pretty comfortable with all of this very soon.
HAMMER: I would guess. But the showdown of the leading ladies isn`t the only "Oscar Must-See." Number 4 on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," it`s the showdown of the leading men in the Best Actor category.
You have Jennifer Lawrence`s co-star in "Silver Linings Playbook," Bradley Cooper, of course. Daniel Day Lewis is up for "Lincoln." Hugh Jackman nominated for "Les Mis." Joaquin Phoenix for "The Master," and Denzel Washington could win Best Actor for "Flight."
TURNER: You know, I just spent team with Denzel, and this is his sixth nomination, the most for an African-American actor. He`s won twice, and to me, his performance as a deeply troubled airline pilot in "Flight" is easily one of his best ever.
DENZEL WASHINGTON, ACTOR: I`m older, more mature. Hopefully, I`m a better actor. I won`t say it`s a more complex role, but it`s a complex role. I mean, this guy has got -- you know, it`s a very well-written. You know, what do you do?
TURNER: Right.
WASHINGTON: Is he a hero? I mean, he killed people, but he saved a bunch of people, but he was drunk.
TURNER: Right.
WASHINGTON: And then he spirals into this, you know, drunkenness. And when I read it, I was like, "Oh, I`m doing this one."
TURNER: What does Denzel today say or what advice would you give the Denzel nominated for "Glory" all those years ago? What would you tell that guy?
WASHINGTON: What would I tell that guy?
TURNER: Yes.
WASHINGTON: Relax. Yes. Calm down.
HAMMER: Denzel is such a class act.
TURNER: Yes. He sure is. Talking to him, you know, was really a high point for me.
HAMMER: Couldn`t tell. Right now our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of the top 5 "Oscar Must-Sees" rolls on. Who`s our No. 1? Will it be first-time Oscar host Seth MacFarlane?
MACFARLANE: It`s a very thin-skinned room.
TURNER: But you have -- yes. And you have an edgy aesthetic. So how do you walk that line?
MACFARLANE: It`s a really bad match is I think what we`ve arrived at here. I`m the wrong guy.
TURNER: Seth is definitely putting Hollywood on notice. Wait until you see what he told me about how he plans to walk that line and who did he call for advice?
HAMMER: But will Seth`s host hijinks top the Ben factor? Ben Affleck has cleaned up this awards season. His film, "Argo," captured seven Oscar nominations, but a lot is being made of the fact that he wasn`t nominated for Best Director. So does he think he was snubbed? You`re going to see what Ben told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
This is "SHOWBIZ Road to Gold." And did you know that Naomi Watts almost gave up acting before hitting the big time? Well, now she`s up for Best Actress Oscar for her amazing performance in "The Impossible."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m scared.
NAOMI WATTS, ACTRESS: I am scared, too.
There were so many times where, you know, I was too behind on my rent and, you know, in debt and it just seemed like it was just too hard to continue to struggle. And too hard on my heart, like it was just over and over again to the point where I was like I can`t take this rejection anymore.
And then suddenly just as I made that decision, I would get to the point where I`d pull up my ticket home. And then I would get a call: "You have an offer, two weeks on this film or six weeks on this TV show" or whatever it was. And I just kept going.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: I am Seth MacFarlane, and I`ll be your host this year for the Oscars, so tweet about it now. That`s not how you spell "douche."
HAMMER: That`s Seth MacFarlane, who`s going to be hosting the Oscars for the first time on Sunday.
Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ Road to Gold." I`m A.J. Hammer in Hollywood with Nischelle Turner.
TURNER: Yes, that would be me and our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of the top five "Oscar Must-Sees" continues. Seth MacFarlane is our No. 3 pick. Seth is known for crossing the line on his shows like "Family Guy" and "American Dad."
HAMMER: And of course, Nischelle, his racy style naturally has a lot of people wondering this year if he`s going to be crossing the line at the Oscars.
TURNER: That is true, A.J. And he`s playing to a very tough room in there. But when I talked to him, he told me, "I`m ready for the challenge."
This is the first time you`re hosting. So is there an added pressure or is it just, you know, "I know how to do this. I`ve been in this game for a long time"?
MACFARLANE: You know, the mechanics of it are surprisingly the same as a lot of other stuff that I`ve done. It`s -- the audience is obviously a billion times bigger.
TURNER: It`s a tough room.
MACFARLANE: And it`s a tougher room, yes. It`s a very thin-skinned room.
TURNER: But you -- yes, and you have an edgy aesthetic so how do you walk that line?
MACFARLANE: So it`s a really bad match is what I think we`ve arrived at here. I`m the wrong guy to do this.
I`m Seth MacFarlane, and I`ll be hosting the Oscars this year, where we`ll be celebrating all of your favorite films.
TURNER: Do you reach out to those people who you know have killed at the Oscars, who have done it really right?
MACFARLANE: Yes. I talked to Billy Crystal. And he was super nice guy and genuinely helpful, took a lot of time out of his schedule to sit down with me. And I came out of it with some practical, practical stuff, and it was -- you know, I`m very grateful to him for taking the time.
TURNER: Can you tell me one thing he told you?
MACFARLANE: Get comfortable with your shoes before you get on stage.
TURNER: I like that.
So Seth has got those comfortable shoes. He`s ready to go.
HAMMER: I know it`s going to be great. I cannot wait to see what happens.
That takes us to the No. 2 spot on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of "Oscar Must- Sees." It`s Ben Affleck.
AFFLECK: I need you to help me make a fake movie.
JOHN GOODMAN, ACTOR: So you want to come to Hollywood and act like a big shot without actually doing anything.
AFFLECK: Yes.
GOODMAN: You`ll fit right in.
HAMMER: Ben Affleck directed, produced and starred in "Argo," which has really cleaned up this awards season.
"Argo" won five Golden Globes, seven Critics` Choice Awards. And Ben has repeatedly won Best Director awards, including from the Directors` Guild. But, while "Argo" is up for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Ben did not get a Best Director nomination. A lot of people say that`s ridiculous.
Well, Ben tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that he doesn`t feel snubbed, and he`s grateful for the wild ride.
AFFLECK: I have nothing but respect for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is 5 or 6,000 people who are responsible for making all of the movies that I love and admire. That`s the way I kind of feel about it.
I`m also very grateful to the DGA. You know, I mean, you`re not entitled to win anything. You`re not entitled to anything in life. I`m really happy -- I`m thrilled and honored that the academy nominated me as a producer for the movie.
And I know as our movie, you know, maybe we`re a little bit underdog and a little bit "The Little Engine That Could," but -- and taking me out of it maybe helps give us purpose, because it`s about that movie, you know, just picture, and -- but, you know, it`s OK. I`m really lucky. I`m in a great place.
HAMMER: What an amazing ride. Ben has certainly come a long way since winning his first Oscar back in 1997 for co-writing "Good Will Hunting," of course, with his buddy, Matt Damon.
TURNER: Oh, my God, he`s come such a long way. And I`m betting that "Argo" will have a very good night at the Oscars.
HAMMER: There`s no question about it.
Well, we still have to reveal No. 1 on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of the top 5 "Oscar Must-Sees."
TURNER: Yes. So stick around to find out the numero uno thing we cannot wait to see at the Oscars.
HAMMER: This is the SHOWBIZ Road to Gold, and I can tell you that Best Actor nominee Bradley Cooper is enjoying every minute of his journey on the road to gold. He has been meeting his movie idols, and one of them happens to be his co-star in "Silver Linings Playbook," fellow nominee Robert De Niro.
COOPER: I mean, the world`s hard enough as it is, guys. Can`t somebody say, "Hey, let`s be positive. Let`s have a good ending to the story"?
JACKI WEAVER, ACTRESS: Pat, you owe us an apology.
COOPER: Mom, I can`t apologize. I`m not going to apologize for this. You know what I will do? I will apologize on behalf of Ernest Hemingway, because that`s who`s to blame here.
ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: Yes. Have Ernest Hemingway call us and apologize to us, too.
COOPER: He made me as ease completely, and that`s his gift as a great actor, is he makes his partner feel at ease and cared for and work hard. But no, I love the fact that I got to work with him. He was one of the reasons I felt that I could possibly do Pat Solitano justice, because I knew I could believe calling him dad. And so no, I loved it. Loved it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: That`s Adele`s amazing voice singing the theme song from "Skyfall," the latest James Bond movie, a nominee for Best Original Song Sunday at the Oscars.
Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ Road to Gold." I`m A.J. Hammer in Hollywood with Nischelle Turner.
TURNER: Yes, indeed. Now for the big reveal of what`s No. 1 in our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of the top five "Oscar Must-Sees," and in the No. 1 shot, the singing showdown.
HAMMER: Yes. Adele is going to be just one of many big stars performing at the Oscars this year, and the crazy part of Adele`s road to gold is that it almost didn`t happen. Watch what she told us about almost turning down that Bond gig.
ADELE, SINGER: It`s a huge responsibility, you know, and a lot, a lot of pressure to do a song for any film, let alone a Bond song. You know, Shirley Bassey is the queen of Bond. And that pressure was huge. And I had a huge, weird, strange, bizarre year with my album "21" that just shot me to beyond fame. It was ridiculous. And I was pregnant, so I didn`t -- I had my child about two weeks before the film came out, so it was bad timing. That`s why I didn`t know if I wanted to do it.
HAMMER: And we are so glad she ended up saying yes. Adele will be just one of many must-see performances on Oscar night. Also taking the stage, Barbra Streisand. This is the first time she`s singing at the Oscars in 36 years.
Catherine Zeta Jones will also perform. So will Jennifer Hudson, as well as Ann Hathaway, who got a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her singing and performance in "Les Miserables."
TURNER: Ann will be joined by her "Les Miserables" co-stars, including Hugh Jackman, who`s up for Best Actor.
HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR (singing): Can I conceal myself forever more, pretend I`m not the man I was before? But must my name until I die be no more than an alibi? Must I lie?
TURNER: That`s one way to get nominated for an Oscar. I am so glad Hugh will be part of the Oscar singing showdown.
And the thing that I love about Hugh is that he`s not only a talented guy, but he`s also just really humble. Had a great time speaking with him about where that humility comes from, and he confessed some really interesting childhood Oscar memories. Watch what he told me.
So obviously, you`re a great actor or you wouldn`t be here. But I have to say, I buy into this whole thing, because it feels like to me like you`re having the time of your life.
JACKMAN: Yes. You know, the thing for me is let me give you a little context for me. I`m from Sydney. I`m from the northern suburb of Sydney, 45-minute drive north of the city. My father worked for PriceWaterhouse, the accountancy firm, his entire life. When the accountants used to come on the Oscars -- remember with their little briefcases, that really awkward ten seconds of TV? -- we would go crazy. And I remember one year my dad saying, "I had a meeting with that guy once." And we -- I just thought my dad was "it."
So for me, this is something beyond the realm of imagination, and I`m not a bit the same as when I hosted it. I`m like, I`m a kid from Sydney. I`m not going to finish this by complaining or saying I`m tired or busy or nervous. I`m just going to enjoy it.
TURNER: Your daughter is a bit of a ham. Your son kind of shies away. So are you ready for the next generation to do this business? Because does it seem like she`s headed down the path?
JACKMAN: Yes. I totally can see her getting there, and I just -- the only thing Deb and I, we`re worried about them getting in too early. You know, I am sort of lucky that I had a pretty normal childhood and got into it. You know, none of this hit until I was probably 30, which I think is a good thing.
HAMMER: Yes. It certainly has been a good thing for Hugh and, of course, for all of us who really love his work.
And Nischelle, I have to say, I`m really excited to see all the winners on Sunday night, and I`m really looking forward to the show.
TURNER: Oh, yes. Absolutely. It`s going to be an amazing combination of comedy, music, and well, of course, movies.
HAMMER: We are going to be right there at the center of it all this Sunday, at the 85th Academy Awards. Watch for our live coverage of Hollywood`s biggest night starting at 6 p.m. Eastern on CNN.
And then you won`t want to miss SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s special live coverage of all the Oscar surprises on Monday morning, 10 a.m. on "MORNING EXPRESS WITH ROBIN MEADE," right here on HLN.
But do not go anywhere. Because we are about to launch another show- stopping "SHOWBIZ Countdown," "Forgive and Forget?" Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian. Is it time for Kris to just sign the divorce papers so they both can just get on with their lives? Or does he have every right to cause Kim as much pain and shame as she caused him?
Speaking of public shame, is it time to forgive John Mayer for all of his antics?
JOHN MAYER, MUSICIAN: I was just a jerk, you know, and it`s hard sometimes for people to process that.
HAMMER: Come on. The guy admits to being a jerk. But is that enough to "Forgive and Forget?" Will John`s turnaround top the "SHOWBIZ Countdown"?
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," "Forgive and Forget." They are the bad boys that we love to hate, but is it time for us to give them a break?
Rihanna just threw a huge 25th birthday bash in Hawaii, and Chris Brown was right there. So if Rihanna forgives Chris, should we?
What about all the grief President Obama is getting for just playing a round of golf with Tiger Woods? Yes, Tiger lied and cheated, bad stuff for sure, but is he ever going to be allowed to move on?
And let`s not forget about Kim Kardashian`s divorce drama with Kris Humphries. They`re just now going to trial because Kris kept dragging his feet. Forget it, man, she left you after 72 days. But dude, could you just let it go? It is the SHOWBIZ, "Forgive and Forget" countdown. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" continues right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And thank you for watching. I am A.J. Hammer in Hollywood with a big SHOWBIZ Countdown where we`re asking forgive and forget? They`re the top five stars who`ve gotten slammed for doing so much so wrong, but is it just time to cut them a break? And kicking off the countdown at number five, Kim Kardashian`s divorce drama. So, a judge here in L.A. has just set a May trial date to finally, finally put an end to the never ending Kim Kardashian-Kris Humphries divorce saga, an astounding 18 months after Kim announced that she was leaving him. Can we get a round of applause here, please?
(APPLAUSE)
HAMMER: I mean there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Kim and her sister Chloe opened up in the family`s reality show about why the divorce has taken so darn long.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHLOE KARDASHIAN: I don`t know how she is so calm about this. He is suing her for an annulment. The only way to legally get an annulment is if that there`s some type of fraud involved. So Kris said Kim defrauded him to marry her for press.
KIM KARDASHIAN: That`s crazy.
CLOE KARDASHIAN: Kim, the fact that you even got married is crazy.
If you wanted to marry someone just for press, wouldn`t you have picked someone that was actually popular?
KIM KARDASHIAN: I should have listened to the signs, but, you know.
CLOE KARDASHIAN: Let me just give you one word of advice. If you ever come across anyone who barks for most of his words, don`t date them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s been hard to understand, a 72 day marriage, a year-and-a-half to get divorced, can you believe it? Well, I`ve got two stars right here with me in Hollywood tonight who can`t wait to get in on this. Sheryl Lee Ralph who`s starring in NBC`s hit show "Smash" and Mark McGrath, front man for the legendary group "Sugar Ray". Tickets are going on sale for his "Under the Sun" tour. It`s going to happen in April. Mark is going to be seen on ABC`s "Celebrity Wife Swap", that`s on March 5th.
(CROSSTALK)
MARK MCGRATH, SUGAR RAY: Someone`s got to do it.
HAMMER: ... straight to our first countdown question tonight. Should Kris forgive Kim and sign the divorce papers right now and just get this thing over with? Mark, I am starting with you.
MCGRATH: Yeah. Come on, Kris. I mean, look, that spotlight is an elixir. You know, you go out - you go to the bathroom with Kim and you`re on the front page of "US Weekly" and being the 26th best rebounder in NBA doesn`t get you on the cover of "People." So, every now and then he throws out a little soundbite, I`m still working on the annulment, and guess who was on the cover of "Us Weekly." Kris Humphries. So. I get it. That`s spotlight, it lulls you, A.J. that`s why I am here talking to you, my brother.
HAMMER: Well, I appreciate that. And thank you for soaking it all in with us.
MCGRATH: I love it. I love it.
HAMMER: But Sheryl, he calls the marriage a sham. Sham or not, is there anything smart about the fact that he is keeping this thing going?
SHERYL LEE RALPH: You know something there, it is probably very smart because we`re still talking about him. And now that he is only making like six shots per game ...
(LAUGHTER)
RALPH: Maybe only six rebounds per game, he probably really needs a spotlight, but, baby, you better forgive, forget and move on.
HAMMER: Yeah.
RALPH: ... and he is going to miss the money he thought he was going to get out of that marriage. I feel bad for you, Kris.
HAMMER: You know, Kim has clearly moved on with her life.
RALPH: She is.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: -- and everything.
RALPH: And everything. Let`s move from divorce drama ourselves to marital mayhem. Coming here at number four on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, the never ending feud between LeAnn Rimes, Brandi Glanville and Brandie`s ex-husband Eddie Cibrian who is now married to Leann. Are you paying attention? So, Brandi has just released a tell all book, "Reigniting the Feud". If you missed any of the bickering, this is basically how it works Brandi insults LeAnn, LeAnn offends Brandi. Eddie lays low while the women battle it out. This feud all got under way, of course, when Eddie left Brandi for LeAnn. So, our next "Forgive and Forget" countdown question, should Brandi forgive LeAnn and move on with her new life, Sheryl?
RALPH: Let me tell you something. When you`re doing all of this bickering and back fighting and all of that, it ruins your good looks. Ladies, you better forgive and forget each other. Shoot, Brandi has been talking about all the botox, all the filler, all the this, all the nip and the tucks she has been doing on herself. That`s because she`s so busy fighting LeAnn. Come on. You all are hurting these children. These children need a break, ladies. Can you imagine what poor Eddie is like?
HAMMER: As I said, he is laying low. You all take care of this. But the truth is, I am right there with you. Who needs the stress? Who needs the karma? And the ladies of "The View" were having at this by the way. Brandi said that she is ready to stop the madness. Let`s watch how that played.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRANDI GLANVILLE: I had to get my inside out. I had to speak my piece. This is my official sitdown. And they have done 100,000 times, and I am done. I am just so done with them. I want to change the conversation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why? Why are you now done?
GLANVILLE: It is exhausting. I mean it`s been four years. And at some point I have to just take that stuff and move forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, to be fair, this nastiness is really coming from both sides with LeAnn Rimes publicist just releasing a statement on LeAnn`s behalf slamming Brandi, accusing her of drinking too much. That came from a publicist, Mark. I mean what do you think? Time to forgive and forget and really to Sheryl`s point above and beyond everything else, there are kids involved here.
MCGRATH: Absolutely. And they have kids. So, I know playing out in the public forum is a little rough, but the tricky thing is a little fancy to me being an Irish man, but we`ll let that go ...
(LAUGHTER)
MCGHRATH: And, obviously, Sheryl Lee has never been in an argument, look at this beauty. (inaudible). But here is the thing. That man stealing business, that husband stealing business, it`s dirty business, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes.
MCGRATH: So, you know, it goes back and forth and LeAnn, I mean, you know, you`re swimming in dirty pool and you might get a little dirty. But I think it is time to forgive and forget. But don`t forget, you know, Brandi says a little something, she`s on Howard Stern, you know, she goes for it, too, by the way.
RALPH: She goes for it baby.
MCGRATH: She is not afraid to go for it.
RALPH: I guess she`s trying to forgive and forget because she has written the book and she figures, I`ve written the book now, just buy it, you can read about it, then we can forget about it?
MCGRATH: Right, so who is smart? You know what I mean?
HAMMER: Do you think any part of it is they don`t want to forgive and forget because of the publicity that ...
MCGRATH: That`s what I`m talking about, A.J. Is anything more scary than no one talking about you? I will attest to that. It is scary. That`s why I am here. You know.
HAMMER: All right, will somebody who is now promising to zip it, at least there is somebody out there that takes us to number three on our SHOWBIZ "Forgive and Forget" countdown. It is John Mayer who appears to be on a mission to prove that his bad boy behavior towards women has changed. Now, John just told "CBS Sunday Morning" that his whole foot and mouth moments about his exes are in fact a thing of the past. Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MAYER: I was just a jerk, you know, and it is hard sometimes people to process that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MAYER: They`d rather have a quick go-to like, oh, he was on -- he was popping X number of pills a day. No, I wasn`t. I was just a jerk, you know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, how does that happen?
MAYER: Taking every battle on, not taking a break, not looking at - not being honest, not saying let`s admit that we don`t know the next step.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of all what`s changed?
MAYER: It is very liberating when you finally realize that it is impossible to make everyone like you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Mayer really turned a lot of people off when he talked so much and so publicly about Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Aniston and his sex lives with those women. But he says that he has learned his lesson. So, here is our next SHOWBIZ Countdown question. Are John Mayer`s bad boy days really behind him? Is it time to forgive the guy and Sheryl, the moment he opened his mouth you are sitting here shaking your head, no, no.
RALPH: You know something? I - it`s very difficult for me because first of all he had that foot in the mouth disease and it was so bad for him that he had to botox his vocal cords to keep them from coming together which scared me in itself, but I will forgive him as soon as I can forget that he had the audacity to give that interview where he said he had a Benetton heart, but he had a segregationist racist penewali (ph). I was like come on now.
HAMMER: That didn`t work for you.
RALPH: That did not work for me. I didn`t like that at all. Then he goes onto write that song "Fathers be good to your daughters to protect them from guys like me."
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
RALPH: No.
HAMMER: All right, now, Mark, listen, you know how tough it can be when you are out there in the public eye and people are buying your music and they love you, but some people may stop buying your music and not love you as much if you are saying some stupid stuff. And that`s the problem that he got himself into and now he is trying to come around from that.
MCGRATH: He is good, though. Isn`t he good? He is out there in Montana with the Ralph Lauren "Wild West" collection with the river behind him going I have changed, man.
RALPH: Are you saying it is nonsense? Are you saying ...
MCGRATH: I am saying he is very smart. I`m saying he is very smart guy. Look, no one was feeling John Mayer more than John Mayer back then. You know what I mean? That`s why he was out there saying whatever he wanted to say and see how far he could get away with it. He admits that. Now what John Mayer does worst is be a celebrity. He is an incredible musician, one of our best guitar players, I mean don`t jam with Eric Clapton and not get the wave of approval from the legend.
RALPH: Right.
MCGRATH: I think John needs to concentrate on the music, concentrate on being the excellent guitar player, one of America`s premier singer and song writer that he is and leave the, you know, the gossip in the past. I mean we used to love to build John Mayer up, now we can`t wait to tear him down. And that`s ...
RALPH: And that`s show biz, baby.
HAMMER: Welcome to SHOWBIZ.
RALPH: That is show biz.
MCGRATH: OK, I think ...
HAMMER: But I like him - I like him - and I really want him to stick with this plan.
MCGRATH: Me too.
HAMMER: We have got two more big reveals on our SHOWBIZ "Forgive and Forget" countdown. Who will possibly be number one? Sheryl, Mark, stay right where you are. Because we`re going to get to it coming up next. And which star will be the number one actor at the Oscars this year? Will it be Bradley Cooper for his incredible performance in "Silver Linings Playbook."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRADLEY COOPER: I saw Helen Hunt today and I was able to sort of communicate how much I loved her performance. That`s incredible and hug Steven Spielberg and say hello, it is ridiculous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" just went one-on-one with Bradley and I can tell you he is totally amped for his first ever Oscar nomination. Is he worried about the competition? He just revealed the answer to that and a whole lot more to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." You have got to see this Oscars news maker interview coming up. This is SBT, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." I am A.J. Hammer in Hollywood. And in the SHOWBIZ Countdown we are counting down the top five stories breaking that have us wondering, forgive and forget? Well, here is where we are so far. Coming in at number five, Kim Kardashian`s soon to be ex- husband Kris Humphries is willing to miss the NBA playoffs in April to attend their divorce trial. Is it time for Kris to forgive and forget Kim instead of giving her such a hard time? Number four, LeAnn Rimes slams her husband`s ex-wife Brandi Glanville from pointing out that LeAnn is unstable. LeAnn fires back implying Brandi drinks. Should they both just forgive and forget? Number three, John Mayer now, says he was a jerk when he mouthed off about his famous ex girlfriends. Is it time to cut him a break? That brings us to number two on our SHOWBIZ Countdown, Tiger Woods. OK, it is been four years since we learned that he was a serial cheater ending his marriage to Elin Nordegren, but even today Tiger still gets major grief. Well, let`s have at this one again with fabulous Sheryl Lee Ralph, now starring in NBC "Smash" and "Sugar Ray" front man legend Mark McGrath. (inaudible) Hollywood with me. I didn`t write it.
MCGRATH: I love it.
HAMMER: OK.
MCGRATH: I will take a legend all day.
RALPH: Take it, yeah.
HAMMER: So, guys, a lot of people seem really surprised that President Obama just played golf with Tiger in Florida and Tiger just revealed it was the president who invited him. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS: And it was - it was an invitation that certainly you don`t turn down. Playing with Mr. President was pretty cool. He is just a wonderful person to be around and we won.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, the president has been getting a whole lot of grief for not revealing at first that he played golf with Tiger. Some people actually suggesting he may not have wanted to be publicly associated with the former philandering golfer. Sheryl, time to forgive and forget and move on?
RALPH: Forgive, forget, move on. The man made a big mistake by letting his wife whoop his behind.
(LAUGHTER)
RALPH: Everybody seems to forget that, that she whooped his behind.
HAMMER: And that was payment enough.
RALPH: And totaled the car. That was payment enough. Can we forgive and forget and move on from that?
MCGRATH: Especially publicly getting your wife - a beating done by your wife. So, he`s suffered enough. And by the way, he didn`t go to Hooters after and have, you know, a keg of beer with the president. He played a little golf with him. Let`s forgive him. By the way, if Michael Jordan called to play some hoops, I think the president would play with him as well.
RALPH: Absolutely.
MCGRATH: These are legends, you know. Forgive and forget. Because I think that was a slow news week this week. You know what I mean? Come on.
HAMMER: Once the word got out the president was willing to talk about playing with Tiger and I want to watch what he told ABC affiliate KGO in San Francisco.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: He plays a different game than I do. He is on another plane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is he more nervous because he is playing with you or you`re more nervous because you are playing with Tiger Woods?
OBAMA: You know, I don`t think he was nervous, you know. He knew that I wasn`t a big threat to his world ranking and I knew that I better keep my day job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. The president clearly not acting like he had anything to hide there. And Sheryl, that sure does seem like he doesn`t in any way see Tiger as an embarrassment.
RALPH: Not at all. At some point like you just said, we must forgive and forget. Besides, Tiger has got some very deep pockets, baby, and it is good to have friends like that. You make them on the golf course. It is an old thing. You know, these men do it forever.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: -- money? What are you talking about? Well, that brings us to the big reveal, who is number one on our "Forgive and Forget" SHOWBIZ Countdown. And it is Chris Brown. Chris was just in Hawaii with Rihanna celebrating her 25th birthday, and when you see the Instagram photos that Rihanna has been posting, it is hard to believe that Chris is the same guy who beat her up four years ago. If you look at these shots, it is pretty amazing. People do still shake their heads in disbelief that Rihanna would go back to Chris. But Mark, what do you think? Is it time to forgive and forget? This has been a very tough, tough call for a lot of people, very divisive ...
MCGRATH: Yes.
HAMMER: Some people will not forgive a guy who beat the living daylights out of a woman, which is exactly what he did no matter what they do to try to repair that.
MCGRATH: Well, and that`s their right to think that way. Like, I am not a Chris Brown fan any more saying that, by his actions, I understand that, the man has a right to redeem himself. I think he`s put those steps in place. But I think he wants us to forgive him a little quicker. But my question is this is the ultimate forgive and forget by the way. If the person who is most affected by it forgives him, why don`t all we forgive him as well? You know what I mean?
RALPH: You know what? That`s a hard one. Because there is a deep - there`s a deep psycho - that was a problem right there. There is a deep psychology that goes into, you know, abuse and abusers and very often women who are abused will forgive the person in a way. All I am saying is I love Chris Brown. He is an incredible artist. I love him, but the two of them have some sort of sexual napalm.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Don`t quote John Mayer. John Mayer.
RALPH: What did I say?
HAMMER: Sheryl, we love you in "Smash." It`s great having you here.
RALPH: Thank you.
HAMMER: And Mark, good luck with your "Under the Sun" tournament.
MCGRATH: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: See you on celebrity "Wife Swap" March Fifth. Good luck with that.
Well, from fresh starts to first times, Bradley Cooper getting ready for his first trip ever to the Oscars as a nominee and we just went one-on-one with the "Silver Linings Playbook" star.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRADLEY COOPER: Like I saw Helen Hunt today and I was able to sort of communicate how much I love her performance. That`s incredible. And hug Steven Spielberg and say hello, it is ridiculous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Bradley is all revved up to be part of Hollywood`s biggest night of the year and he`s revealing some serious Oscar secrets to us. You will hear them next. This is SBT, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRADLEY COOPER: She dies, dad. I mean, the world is hard enough as it is, guys. Can`t somebody say, hey, let`s be positive, let`s have a good ending to the story?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pat, you owe us an apology.
COOPER: Mom, I can`t apologize. I am not going to apologize for this. You know what I will do? I will apologize on behalf of Ernest Hemingway because that is whose to blame here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Bradley Cooper is just amazing in "Silver Linings Playbook" and that is why, of course, he is up for a best actor Oscar at the Academy Award his very first nomination. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I am A.J. Hammer here in Hollywood. Also to cover the Oscars for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and it may be hard to believe, but Bradley Cooper is a relative newcomer at this year`s Oscars and I can tell you he is up against some incredible talent. Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Joaquin Phoenix and Hugh Jackman. Well, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" Nischelle Turner who will be right there at the Oscars with me, caught up with Bradley to talk about his Oscar expectations and Nischelle, it seems to me that Bradley Cooper is just really enjoying the ride.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, he really is, A.J. Despite all of this heavyweight competition for the best actor gold, Bradley just told me that he is having the time of his life this Oscar season.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: I was talking to Hugh Jackman earlier. It`s his first time. He is having the time of his life. Are you having the time --
(CROSSTALK)
BRADLEY COOPER: For sure. Just that I get to see him every couple of weeks is incredible and then I finally got to see him all to the films, so I`d be able to like tell the people, like I saw Helen Hunt today and I was able to sort of communicate how much I loved her performance, that`s incredible.
TURNER: When you act opposite to a man like Robert de Niro who is everybody`s gold standard, did that make you nervous, did it make you work harder?
COOPER: Made me at ease completely and that`s his gift as a great actor. As he makes his partner feel at ease and cared for and work hard. He was one of the reasons I thought that I could possibly do Pat Solotano justice because I knew I could believe calling him dad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Come on, dad.
DE NIRO: What are you so up about?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: This week you went to D.C., this past week.
COOPER: Yes.
TURNER: ... to talk on a panel about, you know, taking the veil off of mental illness and the stigma.
COOPER: Yes.
We organized this thing, the show at Walter Reed Hospital for about 50 war vets and the 200 showed up. And I got to know, to talk to these people and learn about, you know, the fact that how much awareness needs to occur for mental illness, especially for soldiers who have post traumatic stress disorder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I do your interview for (inaudible)?
COOPER: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Was it this film that put you on that track to want to really get out and talk about it?
COOPER: For sure. I mean I literally had - I was a complete naive ignorant person before this film. But you know, I also -- it worked out well because I had been a part of the USO for nine years and been to Afghanistan and been to hospitals there visiting soldiers. So, but I never sort of took it back home.
TURNER: That must have made David really proud.
COOPER: When you make something personal for you, chances are other people may relate to it. I love that truth about cinema. It is like if you just try to be authentic and real you`ve got a shot for getting into somebody`s soul.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: I like him. And we`ll be watching definitely to see if Bradley wins Oscar gold.
HAMMER: No question about it. Am I`m going to live on Monday morning right here on HLN as "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" covers the big surprises at the Oscars. We`ve got a special report coming up at 10 a.m. Eastern on HLN`s "Morning Express" with Robin Meade.
Well, from Oscar to otter? I would like you to meet Eddie, the basketball dunk master. He is a super cute sea otter, but he`s also a hoops king. It is our SHOWBIZ "Moment of Awesomeness" and this guy literally blew the competition out of the water today. This is SBT, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now it is time for "SHOWBIZ Awesomeness." This is where we name the most awesome moment of the day and seriously what could possibly be more awesome or cute than this, yeah, that`s a sea otter playing basketball. Trust me, I would stop talking right now and just let this video roll if the story wasn`t so darn heartwarming. So, besides being a dunk master that little guy there, it is a sea otter, has arthritis in his flippers. I know he looks really young. But he is 16 and he is actually an old man in the sea otter years, so training how to play hoops was actually a way to help him stay healthy and if you don`t believe me, well, here now is Eddie`s keeper at the Oregon zoo to prove it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the vets have recommended that we actually work those joints in order to help relieve the arthritis a little better, keep those joints moving. So, we had to come up with a creative way to train Eddie to use those elbows and that`s why we trained him to play basketball.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I love it. If that`s not enough, Eddie`s keepers claim that he hits almost every shot he takes. Truly awesome. Thanks for watching. I am A.J. Hammer in Hollywood. Catch us Monday through Thursday 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. HLN continues right now.
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